Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

सत्यप्रतिज्ञा-तपःसंवादः

Pārvatī’s Vow of Truth and the Dialogue on Her Tapas

Devanagari script

सूर्य्यतेजः परित्यज्य खद्योतद्युतिमिच्छसि । चीनांशुकं विहायैव चर्म्मांबरमिहेच्छसि

Transliteration

sūryyatejaḥ parityajya khadyotadyutimicchasi | cīnāṃśukaṃ vihāyaiva carmmāṃbaramihecchasi

Translation

سورج کی روشنی چھوڑ کر تم جگنو کی مدھم چمک چاہتے ہو۔ عمدہ لباس ترک کر کے یہاں چمڑے کا لباس پہننا چاہتے ہو۔

Word by Word

• सूर्यतेजः: the sun’s radiance
• सूर्यतेजः: कर्म (Karma/Object of parityajya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी): ‘सूर्यस्य तेजः’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• परित्यज्य: having abandoned
• परित्यज्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त) उपसर्गः परि-
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), उपसर्ग (परि-), पूर्वकाल

• खद्योतद्युतिम्: the glow of a firefly
• खद्योतद्युतिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of icchasi)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खद्योत (प्रातिपदिक) + द्युति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी): ‘खद्योतस्य द्युतिः’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इच्छसि: you desire
• इच्छसि: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चीनांशुकम्: Chinese cloth/silk
• चीनांशुकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of vihāya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चीन (प्रातिपदिक) + अंशुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (देश-विशेषण): ‘चीनदेशीयम् अंशुकम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विहाय: having cast off
• विहाय: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त) उपसर्गः वि-
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), उपसर्ग (वि-), पूर्वकाल

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: सम्बन्ध (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• चर्माम्बरम्: a skin-garment
• चर्माम्बरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of icchasi)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: ‘चर्म एव अम्बरम्’ (a garment of skin); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इह: here
• इह: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: here)

• इच्छसि: you desire
• इच्छसि: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Reinforces the śreyas-choice central to Śaiva Siddhānta sādhanā: reject ‘firefly-light’ substitutes (limited powers/pleasures) for the ‘sun’ (Śiva’s grace and true knowledge).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse teaches viveka (discernment): rejecting the supreme light of Shiva-realization for trivial pleasures is like preferring a firefly over the sun. Shaiva Siddhanta frames this as turning from Pati (Shiva) toward pasha-bound attractions that cannot grant liberation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

It supports Saguna Shiva worship as a practical, elevating focus: instead of chasing lesser, fleeting objects, the devotee should hold to Shiva—often through Linga-upasana—which steadily purifies the soul and redirects desire toward the Highest.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a daily discipline of Shiva-bhakti: japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady mind, and cultivate vairagya by consciously choosing Shiva-centered practices over sensory distractions.